but researchers say the lambda variant doesn't seem to spread as fast as the delta variant joining ust all this is dr john schwartzberg, clinical pref, professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccine ology at u. c. berkeley school of public health doctor schwartzberg. always a pleasure to have you on so help us break this down. how does the lambda variant compared to the delta variant in terms of its level of transmissibility and its resistance to vaccines? sure. well the first thing to say is that we don't know a lot about the lambda variant, particularly when compared to the alpha varied or the delta variant that said, i think land is probably much more closely related to alpha than it is to delta. but it has the properties that concern us because it is more transmissible. perhaps more like alpha in terms of his transmissibility, but it could be even more transmissible than alpha, but probably not as much as delta. we're just going to have to wait and see in terms of its ability to resist the immunity we get from vaccination or previous infection. there's data you mentioned th

rutherford: the other one is the lambda variant which is in easton peru, and in the far western brazilian amazon. it does not seem to be breaking out, so my read on that is it is not out-competing the delta variant and will remain a localized problem, but i think we will see what happens. you know, if you want to, kind of, take the next step, after i just trashed ivermectin, let's talk about how to think like a virus. a virus must have a happy host that will reproduce lots of little viruses --that is what you want. you don't want to kill the host because that kills you and all your progeny. so, from an evolutionary standpoint, we are going to see -- and this is over the longer run, i suspect we will see evolution toward things that look like the lambda variant that are very efficient in reproduction, but are not more virulent. we maybe relatively close to the end of seen lots of variants emerge. having said all of that, that is rose-colored glasses stuff. you have to stay on top of it. julian: we will take that at this point. really quickly here if we cannot perhaps we might to take this

what do you know about the lambda variant in san francisco, and there's some questions that the lambda and epsilon variants might be vaccine resistant? >> yeah, we're working with scientists and researchers as much as we can to be responsive to further variants emerging. and i think one of the key issues that we've had across the country, in the region, and, as well, is in -- in san francisco is scaling up our ability to genotype the virus. and thankfully, at ucsf, we have a lab that's leading the state in terms of genotyping. it's plausible that we'll see other variants emerge because we don't have high vaccine rates across the country, and we'll have to wait and see if these variants cause more illness or if they spread or are more crippling than delta. but i go back to -- i sound like a broken record -- the way to keep these variants from spreading is to get vaccinated so the variants slow down. the less people the virus is able to infect, the more the virus slows down, and the less people we infect. the way to support all of this is to support all people getting vaccinated. >> all

so the lambda variant is not as of concern. the world health organization actually designates it as a variant of interest. the variants of concern, they include the alpha variant that we know originated in the uk. beta, delta, which is causing more than 83% of cases in the united states. so these are the variants of concern. the variants of interest include the lambda variant that you mentioned which was first identified in peru among other variants of interest. overall we held from the national institutes of health director, dr. collins, he said these variants, they're watching them closely. have a listen. >> at nih, working with fda and cdc, we have a vigorous team that looks at every knew emerging variant to see what would its effect be in terms of the vaccine. will the vaccine work against this one? so far so good. we don't have anxieties yet about delta or lambda or any others working out there. >> so you see, he said they don't have anxieties yet. again, delta is the biggest concern for us in the u.s. >> jacqueline howard,

early data suggests that the lambda variant might partially chip away at vaccine efficacy. for now, lambda is not considered a variant of concern. across the country, patience with the unvaccinated is wearing thin. new jersey's governor this week blasting anti-vaccine protesters. >> you've lost your minds. you are the ultimate knuckleheads, and because of what you are saying and standing for, people are losing their life. >> reporter: with rising cases, the governor of new jersey once again requiring masks in all schools. but in florida, the governor has banned mask mandates in schools, despite the protests of worried parents. >> the mask, unless everybody is wearing it, it doesn't protect him. our children are not science experiments. it's better than being on a ventilator or in the icu. > reporter: but the state board of education today taking steps on behalf of parents who don't want masks, approving vouchers that can be used at private schools for children who feel bullied in districts trying to require masks. >> i'm the governor who protects parents and their ability to

lambda. >> multiple variants, delta and lambda and we are seeing it through. >> something we need to keep anential impact to more transmissibility, severity of illness. laura: i forgot my scuba suit again. professor of medicine at stanford and yale epidemiology professor. the lambda variant sound like an old 80s punk rock band but we are supposed to panic, hide and never come out of our homes again, what do we need to know about this? >> there's no evidence it's more deadly than any other version of the virus, this virus has been mutating since it came out of china last year. that is what these viruses do. the question is is it more severe in terms of illness, there is no evidence of that. the thousand cases in the us so far. this variant came out of peru which during one of the harshest lockdowns in the world, the logs and if anything is correlated with the production so i don't understand the panic over this variant, it also doesn't evade -- if you had the disease and have natural immunity you are protected against the severe disease. it may evade and you get reinfected but if there is no

what do you know about the lambda variant in san francisco, and there's some questions that the lambda and epsilon variants might be vaccine resistant? >> yeah, we're working with scientists and researchers as much as we can to be responsive to further variants emerging. and i think one of the key issues that we've had across the country, in the region, and, as well, is in -- in san francisco is scaling up our ability to genotype the virus. and thankfully, at ucsf, we have a lab that's leading the state in terms of genotyping. it's plausible that we'll see other variants emerge because we don't have high vaccine rates across the country, and we'll have to wait and see if these variants cause more illness or if they spread or are more crippling than delta. but i go back to -- i sound like a broken record -- the way to keep these variants from spreading is to get vaccinated so the variants slow down. the less people the virus is able to infect, the more the virus slows down, and the less people we infect. the way to support all of this is to support all people getting vaccinated. >> all

what do you know about the lambda variant in san francisco, and there's some questions that the lambda and epsilon variants might be vaccine resistant? >> yeah, we're working with scientists and researchers as much as we can to be responsive to further variants emerging. and i think one of the key issues that we've had across the country, in the region, and, as well, is in -- in san francisco is scaling up our ability to genotype the virus. and thankfully, at ucsf, we have a lab that's leading the state in terms of genotyping. it's plausible that we'll see other variants emerge because we don't have high vaccine rates across the country, and we'll have to wait and see if these variants cause more illness or if they spread or are more crippling than delta. but i go back to -- i sound like a broken record -- the way to keep these variants from spreading is to get vaccinated so the variants slow down. the less people the virus is able to infect, the more the virus slows down, and the less people we infect. the way to support all of this is to support all people getting vaccinated. >> all

now raising the alarm over yet another strain of coronavirus spreading across the country, the lambda variante know about lambda, and will it be as dangerous as delta let's find out, now, in a segment called "getting to know the lambda variant." ♪ >> seth: was first identified in peru, in august of 2020. has officially been classified by the w.h.o. as a global variant of interest. is definitely a virus, and not that new john grisham novel your dad is reading originally rushed delta, but didn't get in. will be in provincetown on labor day weekend if you want to go in on an airbnb together. this was the sound the space dressage horse danced to [ laughter ] ♪ already visited brazil, colombia, ecuador, france, spain, chile, argentina, the uk and canada, and it's only halfway through its gap year says the johnson & johnson vaccine tickles. is considered a cousin to the alpha variant, so don't tell anyone they kissed that one time at a family reunion. just rsvp'd "yes" to 3,000 august weddings. already an early favorite for governor desantis' vp if he runs for president in 2024. just got cast in th

the early data suggests the lambda variant might partially clip away at vaccine efficacy, but for now lambda is not considered to be a variant of concern. >>> tonight a new cdc study finds people who were unvaccinated were more than twice as likely to be reinfected compared to those who were vaccinated. abc7 news reporter and vaccine team member luz pena spoke to bay area experts to find out why. >> reporter: it's the argument some have used to not get vaccinated. i've had covid. therefore, i don't need the vaccine. i'm somewhat protected. turns out that's not entirely true. today the cdc released a study reporting individuals who had covid-19 are twice as likely to get reinfected. >> we don't know exactly how protective or how long the protection from natural infection will last. >> reporter: ucsf dr. timothy henrich has studied the long term impacts of covid-19. >> the study from the cdc really proves vaccines are going to be necessary to achieve full protection for people who have been previously infected. >> reporter: in the cdc study those who were infected with covid-19 in 2020

the lambda variant has been identified in 44 states.sperson with the cdc recently told newsweek. researchers from japan have found that the lambda variant contains three you tatian's and a spike -- three mutations and a spike protein that is more contagious than the original virus. two other mutations make it -- the lack seen resistant -- the vaccine resistant lambda variant is now being seen in the u.s. dan, south dakota. caller: i wanted to let everybody know that i had covid. i almost died. 105 fever. i could not eat or sleep for four days. people, lead us wake up and start smelling the coffee, otherwise you will not be able to smell it if you have covid. i got the vaccine in april, which is 90 or 100 days later. i got the johnson & johnson. it was awesome. i feel 110% better. i have five times more antibodies now. basically, what this boils down to. let us say you were drowning in a sea of covid virus. somebody handed you a life jacket to try to save your life. that is what the vaccine is. people, start grabbing the life jacket. put

the early data suggests the lambda variant might partially clip away at vaccine efficacy, but for now lambda is not considered to be a variant of concern. >>> tonight a new cdc study finds people who were unvaccinated were more than twice as likely to be reinfected compared to those who were vaccinated. abc7 news reporter and vaccine team member luz pena spoke to bay area experts to find out why. >> reporter: it's the argument some have used to not get vaccinated. i've had covid. therefore, i don't need the vaccine. i'm somewhat protected. turns out that's not entirely true. today the cdc released a study reporting individuals who had covid-19 are twice as likely to get reinfected. >> we don't know exactly how protective or how long the protection from natural infection will last. >> reporter: ucsf henrich has studied the long term impacts of covid-19. >> the study from the cdc really proves vaccines are going to be necessary to achieve full protection for people who have been previously infected. >> reporter: in the cdc study those who were infected with covid-19 in 2020 experienced

behindt that, my understandings there is the lambda variant from peru. uld assume behind that is probably some other variant from some other part of the world. potentially morally fullll every time and it's unique in each case, isn't it? >> that's right and a lot of headlines came out of peru because a group of researchers said the lambda variant evadedhe immunity but what they didn't report was they had studied people who got vaccinated with the chinese sign of acts vaccine which is known to be poorly effective. you have to remember that you have two levels of immunity when you are immune. they haven't encompassed every variant in preventing severe illness and death and that'sat about 100% bulletproof. no variant has evaded that. >> i want to highlight white you are saying here and that is even after your antibody levels, if you had a covid-19 go down you still have t cell antibodies. as you rightly point out that probably is the best immunity ones can have because your body would instantly recognize any variant of any coronavirus, is that correct? then

we speak to a medical expert on what you need to know about the lambda variant. >>> a mysterious imagepops up on a bay area hillside. by the artist behind it could be in some travel. >>> cores are desperately searching for more waters to keep we are not sure if the delta variant is more aggressive in pediatric patients or if it is, as you mentioned, because our 11-year-old and under children in this country are not yet eligible to be vaccinated. it is a concern that a couple of days ago the american academy of pediatrics came out with a statement encouraging the ea to speed up the process for pediatric process patient is a pediatrician missile i hope the fda will take this recommendation and this request under guidance and strongly consider speeding up the passing timeline for children ages 11 down to five. >> a lot of anxious parents hoping to get their children protected but what about play dates, camps and other afterschool activities? if all the people in the family are vaccinated and you know the other families are also fascinated, at least all the adults are eligible, should be s

. >> we are hearing about the lambda variant. how is this different delta variant. should we be more concerned about lambda? right now the cdc does not seem overly concerned. they are using a different scene in korea than we are there is concern was a little more resistant to vaccine. we have not seen this to be the case in the united states. we have seen some reporting cases but has not spread like delta has. it is all delta right now. delta is the heatseeking missile that is going to find you if you are unvaccinated. if you want to worry about a variant let's focus on delta today and we will see what tomorrow brings. i want to ask you about the summer goes of going around some parents every time their kid has a cop or staple you automatically think what if it is cold as they go in and get it as there's also the summer clothes that have been circulating. is there a chance that some of that could provide some level of protection against covid for that period of time. i want to know your thoughts. >> right now we are not seeing buckles are providing nem human immunity

lambda and still remains your best chance at protection. every person who's unvaccinated. >> it's really a little incubate of the developing a new variant, one of the first u.s. lambda cases was discovered at houston methodist hospital doctor wesley long works there and says studying and understanding new mutations of covid-19 is critical is important, though, for us on a population level to keep starting the parents looking for your looking for a variance changes that might render things like facts angier the monoclonal antibody therapies. we have less effective. and that was markie. martin reporting for us tonight. meanwhile, a 3rd dose of the covid vaccine could soon be recommended for all americans. that is according to 2 people. >> for million with ongoing discussions. salt eligible americans, of course, the extra shot would be recommended 8 months after someone received there. second dose of the mrna pfizer moderna an official announcement is expected as soon as this week and the doses would be administered once the fda formally approves the vaccines. us health officials have already recommended booster shots for people with weakened i

blackstock, we're starting to hear about a new variant, the lambda variant. worried should we be about the threat of these new potentially worse variants? >> well, joe, thank you so much for having me. as dr. fauci mentioned, when there is widespread transmission of coronavirus variants evolve and are created. so this most recent variant, the lambda variant, was essentially identified in south america, more specifically in peru, and has dominated a lot of the cases in that country and the rest of south america. right now it is still considered or classified rather as a variant of interest, meaning that it has some genetic markers that may indicate that it is more transmissible or may cause more severe disease. there's no lab or clinical data yet, and that's really what we need to elevate it to variant of concern. but whether it is lambda or another variant that evolves, you know, as long as we do not fully vaccinate the rest of this country and the rest of the world we do have to have serious concerns about variants evolving. >> let's be clear right now. the m

but there are other variants now circulating doctors are also keeping a close eye on the lambda variant was first found in south america but is now starting to pop up in many places in the south, including louisiana. alex denis brings us more. >> scientists around the world closely monitor variants of the covid-19 virus people like, you know, that variants don't change. and then stop changing that. keep mutating. and when they crop up we assess communicable. are they how contagious to we think they are can they have protection of our current vaccines. these mutations are classified as either a variant of interest variant of concern, variant of consequence. the lambda variant is the latest strain to pop up first detected in peru the law it doesn't look as though this land that they're in is competitive from a contagiousness point of view, unlike the delta variant, which is currently the most dangerous circulating categorized as a variant of concern is not likely that a variant like delta that is already problematic could for the new tape and become a variant of high consequence. what tha